This is an insulin pump term referring to insulin delivery for food or to correct a high blood sugar. The bolus can be given immediately, as an extended bolus – a stable, continuous infusion over an assigned period of time – or as a dual delivery, a designated percentage delivered immediately, with the remainder as an extended bolus.

Foods with a similar amount of carbohydrate, protein and fat calories per serving size are grouped or listed together. The foods within each list can be “exchanged” for one another during meal planning to provide balanced nutrition and to facilitate carbohydrate counting.

A fat made by the body and consumed in food products that come from animals. Primarily, it travels in the blood as two compounds: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Chemically, cholesterol is a sterol, or rings of carbons attached together.

This is a medical emergency caused by not enough insulin. Without insulin, the body will break down fat and muscles for energy and make ketones. Signs of DKA are nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, fruity breath odor and rapid breathing. Untreated DKA can lead to coma and death.

One of three nutrients that supply calories to the body. Dietary fats are classified as saturated (animal flesh, butter, margarine, processed and fried foods) and unsaturated (vegetable oils). Unsaturated fats are the preferred food for health reasons.

A hormone, which is made by islet cells (alpha cells) in the pancreas, that helps regulate the production of glucose and ketones in the liver. It is available as an injection and is used to treat severe low blood sugar.

A hormone released from the brain (pituitary) that counterbalances the effect of insulin on muscle and fat cells. High levels of growth hormone, such as during puberty or stress, cause resistance to the action of insulin.

High-density lipoprotein particle in the blood. HDL is known as “good” cholesterol because it deposits cholesterol in the liver, where it is excreted by the body. High HDL is thought to protect against coronary artery disease.

Hemoglobin A1c (A1c) is a measure of your average blood glucose control over the previous 3 months. Glucose attaches to hemoglobin in red blood cells, and the glucose-hemoglobin unit is called glycosylated hemoglobin. As red blood cells live an average of 3 months, the glycosylated hemoglobin (or A1c) reflects the sugar exposure to the cells over that time.

Refers to a specific amount of units of insulin per milliliter in manufactured insulin preparations. The concentration can be different in different countries. In the United States, the insulin concentration is 100 units per milliliter.

A large organ in the abdomen that has many functions, including regulating the availability of glucose and fats, secreting bile, synthesizing clotting substances, storing vitamins, and breaking down drugs and waste products.

Refers to an insulin replacement regimen that attempts to provide more physiologic levels of insulin (to re-create what the body does normally) by giving multiple injections of insulin throughout the day.

A high blood sugar which has developed in response to a low blood sugar caused by excess insulin or other diabetes medications. The body responds to low blood sugar by releasing “stress” or glucose counter-regulatory hormones in order to bring the blood sugar back into the normal range. This process may over-correct and actually cause high blood sugars. Another term for a “Somogyi Reaction” is a “Rebound Reaction”.

A type of carbohydrate commonly found in foods labeled “sugar-free” or “no sugar added.” Examples of sugar alcohols are sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol and isomalt. These carbohydrates can raise blood sugars and may cause upset stomach.